Red Hill South: Forest and Sculpture

Red Hill South offers two distinctly different travel interests: scenery along the Merricks Trail and contemporary art on the Montalto Sculpture Trail. There is also specific information about trail use and surfaces. Together, these themes give your trip planning a local starting point: you can weigh up whether nature, art or different types of trails should shape your stay before looking for a hotel.

Lowland forest along the Merricks Trail

The Merricks Trail passes through lowland forest with tall Messmate Stringybark and Narrow-leaf Peppermint trees. The term “lowland forest” describes the landscape, while the two tree species make the woodland setting more specific. If you enjoy noticing plants and your surroundings while out and about, this offers a clear focus on nature. Rather than seeing the forest as a general backdrop, you can focus your attention on the tall trees and the named species. This makes the landscape tangible for travellers who consciously include nature and plant life in their plans.

Sculptures and timing

The Montalto Sculpture Trail features a permanent collection of contemporary sculptures, including 20 works that have received awards at the annual Montalto Sculpture Prize. The collection and the prize offer two different timeframes: the collection is permanent, while the prize takes place annually. If you want to plan specifically around the Prize, check the relevant event dates. The distinction between the permanent collection and the annual prize cycle helps you consider both aspects separately when planning your trip.

Trail use and route details

The Merricks-Red Hill Trail is a shared trail for walkers, mountain bikers and horse riders. The focus of the Red Hill Trail is the trail itself: it runs along a path that is generally two metres wide and surfaced with asphalt or concrete. The names are similar, but the details emphasise different things: the Merricks-Red Hill Trail is described in terms of shared activities, while the Red Hill Trail is described in terms of width and surface. When considering your trail plans, you can treat use and surface as separate criteria.

In the wider region, the Red Hill Trail can be walked as an extension of the Red Hill Rail Trail from Merricks. This connection provides a regional reference point if you want to plan trails beyond Red Hill South. It adds a specific route connection to the local themes of landscape, art and trail use.

Red Hill South as a place to stay

Consider whether the forest landscape, contemporary art or trail use matters most to your trip. If several themes are equally important, you can consider them side by side when choosing a destination rather than deciding in advance on just one type of stay.

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